Quote:
Originally Posted by Tcoat
Actually I bet you have done it yourself and just didn't realize it since you were in gear at the time.
Sitting at an intersecting with the green and waiting to turn left. Guy in a Benz runs the light and nails the guy going straight. Had just enough time to pop the clutch and gun it straight ahead to avoid the guy that got hit being pushed right into me. If had to put it in gear I would have been too late and would have got nailed.
Slowing down for a stop sign and truck comes barreling up behind me could tell was not going to get stopped in time. Again popped clutch and got the hell out of his way. Had to dodge a car going through but managed. The truck stopped about six feet into the intersection and it would have been nasty if I had still been there. This is another case where the 1/2 second needed to put in gear would have been too long.
Going down the highway and downshifting to slow down for a ramp. Guy beside me decides he wants that ramp and starts to move over with his front bumper about midway up my rear door (Lancer GTS). Nowhere to go to the right and if I slow down he has me for sure. Gun it and get ahead and he comes in about an inch behind me. If coasting he would have had me for sure. Scenarios such as this have happened many times.
Of course there are more times you would be trapped and can't do this then there are times you can but motoring out of the way is sometimes your best option if it is available. If you do need to do it then it is sudden and requires quick action. That time needed to go into gear may make the difference between getting out or getting creamed. Now certainly there is no value in doing it if all alone on a wide open stretch of road but since it is my habit I do it all the time. That way there is no thought process involved and when I need to it is there.
In 40 years of driving, at an average of 50K a year, I have driven over 2 million miles and have never had an accident, not even a fender bender. I attribute this to my early military driver training (I was a driver by trade) which had a huge focus on situational awareness and defensive driving. One of the main things they said was keep all your options open all the time. If you are prepared then motoring out of the way is an option so that is what I have done. You can not use this option in time if you are sitting in neutral.
This is just my personal experience and I know some disagree for various reasons so take my advice as you wish.
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That makes sense. Thats why a lot of people prefer Auto, since its only two pedals and a few less steps to do in situation like this.
Gonna start doing this now since it makes more sense, unless I'm in the middle of the line or something.